Virtual audience using low bitrate avatars and laughter detection

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a processing system acquires a video image and voice data of a remote viewer of a live event content, and generating animation parameters relating to the video image. An avatar of the viewer is constructed based on the animation parameters; the avatar includes an animated version of the video image. The animated version and voice data are encoded to obtain a compressed animation data stream and a compressed audio stream, which are transmitted at a low bit rate to a remote system providing the content. The remote system aggregates compressed animation data streams and compressed audio streams to obtain a virtual audience for the event; the virtual audience includes avatars of the remote viewers and sound produced by the remote viewers. Other embodiments are disclosed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to a remote viewing of live events, andmore particularly to a system for simulating a live audience for theevent to improve a remote user's viewing experience and give livefeedback to the performer(s).

BACKGROUND

Entertainment and sports programs can be delivered to remote viewerswith no live audience (for example, when required by social distancingrules). The lack of a live audience can degrade the quality of theviewing experience, especially for comedy and sports programs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary, non-limitingembodiment of a communications network in accordance with variousaspects described herein.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a system functioning within the communication network ofFIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2B schematically illustrates a client/server architecture inaccordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2C schematically illustrates an audio/video facial capture clientfor generating members of a virtual audience, in accordance withembodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2D illustrates Face Definition Parameter (FDP) feature points of aface model used to generate an animated virtual audience member, inaccordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2E schematically illustrates a procedure in which multipleanimation streams, including avatars of viewers of a program, aretransmitted to a content processing system delivering program content,in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2F schematically illustrates a system for producing a live eventthat is viewed by a remote audience, in accordance with embodiments ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 2G schematically illustrates a system for cloud-based productionand presentation of a live event that is viewed by a remote audience, inaccordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2H schematically illustrates a system for cloud-based productionand presentation of a live event with a virtual audience, in accordancewith embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2I is a flowchart depicting an illustrative embodiment of a methodin accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a virtualized communication network in accordance withvarious aspects described herein.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of amobile network platform in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acommunication device in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for providing an animated virtual audience at a live event.In various embodiments, remote viewers' faces are captured in order todrive avatars to protect privacy and avoid inappropriate video content.Audio from the viewers is processed to remove speech while includinglaughter, cheering and applause. Other embodiments are described in thesubject disclosure.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a method performedby a processing system in which the processing system acquires a videoimage of a remote viewer of a plurality of remote viewers of contentdepicting an event, and acquires voice data of the remote viewer. Themethod also includes generating, by the processing system, animationparameters relating to the video image; the animation parameters arebased on an animation model and correspond to spatial deviations ofportions of the video image from feature points of the animation model.The method also includes constructing, based on the animationparameters, an avatar of the remote viewer comprising an animatedversion of the video image; encoding the animated version to obtain acompressed animation data stream; and encoding the voice data to obtaina compressed audio stream. The method further includes transmitting thecompressed animation data stream and the compressed audio stream to aremote system providing the content. The remote system aggregates aplurality of compressed animation data streams and a plurality ofcompressed audio streams corresponding to the plurality of remoteviewers, to obtain a virtual audience for the event; the virtualaudience comprises avatars of the plurality of remote viewers and soundproduced by the plurality of remote viewers, the sound being filtered toremove spoken words of the plurality of remote viewers.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a devicecomprising a processing system including a processor and a memory thatstores instructions; the instructions, when executed by the processingsystem, facilitate performance of operations. The operations compriseacquiring a video image of a remote viewer of a plurality of remoteviewers of content depicting an event, and acquiring voice data of theremote viewer. The operations also include generating face animationparameters relating to the video image; the face animation parametersare based on an animation model and correspond to spatial deviations ofportions of the video image from feature points of the face animationmodel. The operations also include constructing, based on the faceanimation parameters, an avatar of the remote viewer comprising ananimated version of the video image; encoding the animated version toobtain a compressed animation data stream; and encoding the voice datato obtain a compressed audio stream. The method further includestransmitting the compressed animation data stream and the compressedaudio stream to a remote system providing the content. The remote systemaggregates a plurality of compressed animation data streams and aplurality of compressed audio streams corresponding to the plurality ofremote viewers, to obtain a virtual audience for the event; the virtualaudience comprises avatars of the plurality of remote viewers and soundproduced by the plurality of remote viewers, the sound being filtered toremove spoken words of the plurality of remote viewers.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a machine-readablemedium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by aprocessing system including a processor, facilitate performance ofoperations. The operations comprise acquiring a video image of a remoteviewer of a plurality of remote viewers of content depicting an event,and acquiring voice data of the remote viewer. The operations alsoinclude generating face animation parameters relating to the videoimage; the face animation parameters are based on an animation model andcorrespond to spatial deviations of portions of the video image fromfeature points of the face animation model. The operations also includeconstructing, based on the face animation parameters, an avatar of theremote viewer comprising an animated version of the video image;encoding the animated version to obtain a compressed animation datastream; and encoding the voice data to obtain a compressed audio stream.The method further includes transmitting the compressed animation datastream and the compressed audio stream to a remote system providing thecontent. The remote system aggregates a plurality of compressedanimation data streams and a plurality of compressed audio streamscorresponding to the plurality of remote viewers, to obtain a virtualaudience for the event; the virtual audience comprises avatars of theplurality of remote viewers and sound produced by the plurality ofremote viewers, the sound being filtered in a filtering procedureperformed at a cloud server to remove spoken words of the plurality ofremote viewers.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a system 100 in accordance withvarious aspects described herein. For example, system 100 can facilitatein whole or in part transmitting a compressed animation data stream anda compressed audio stream to a remote system providing content depictinga live event; the remote system aggregates a plurality of compressedanimation data streams and a plurality of compressed audio streamscorresponding to a plurality of remote viewers, to obtain a virtualaudience for the event. In particular, a communications network 125 ispresented for providing broadband access 110 to a plurality of dataterminals 114 via access terminal 112, wireless access 120 to aplurality of mobile devices 124 and vehicle 126 via base station oraccess point 122, voice access 130 to a plurality of telephony devices134, via switching device 132 and/or media access 140 to a plurality ofaudio/video display devices 144 via media terminal 142. In addition,communication network 125 is coupled to one or more content sources 175of audio, video, graphics, text and/or other media. While broadbandaccess 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130 and media access 140are shown separately, one or more of these forms of access can becombined to provide multiple access services to a single client device(e.g., mobile devices 124 can receive media content via media terminal142, data terminal 114 can be provided voice access via switching device132, and so on).

The communications network 125 includes a plurality of network elements(NE) 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. for facilitating the broadband access 110,wireless access 120, voice access 130, media access 140 and/or thedistribution of content from content sources 175. The communicationsnetwork 125 can include a circuit switched or packet switched network, avoice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network, Internet protocol (IP)network, a cable network, a passive or active optical network, a 4G, 5G,or higher generation wireless access network, WIMAX network,UltraWideband network, personal area network or other wireless accessnetwork, a broadcast satellite network and/or other communicationsnetwork.

In various embodiments, the access terminal 112 can include a digitalsubscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), cable modem terminationsystem (CMTS), optical line terminal (OLT) and/or other access terminal.The data terminals 114 can include personal computers, laptop computers,netbook computers, tablets or other computing devices along with digitalsubscriber line (DSL) modems, data over coax service interfacespecification (DOCSIS) modems or other cable modems, a wireless modemsuch as a 4G, 5G, or higher generation modem, an optical modem and/orother access devices.

In various embodiments, the base station or access point 122 can includea 4G, 5G, or higher generation base station, an access point thatoperates via an 802.11 standard such as 802.11n, 802.11ac or otherwireless access terminal. The mobile devices 124 can include mobilephones, e-readers, tablets, phablets, wireless modems, and/or othermobile computing devices.

In various embodiments, the switching device 132 can include a privatebranch exchange or central office switch, a media services gateway, VoIPgateway or other gateway device and/or other switching device. Thetelephony devices 134 can include traditional telephones (with orwithout a terminal adapter), VoIP telephones and/or other telephonydevices.

In various embodiments, the media terminal 142 can include a cablehead-end or other TV head-end, a satellite receiver, gateway or othermedia terminal 142. The display devices 144 can include televisions withor without a set top box, personal computers and/or other displaydevices.

In various embodiments, the content sources 175 include broadcasttelevision and radio sources, video on demand platforms and streamingvideo and audio services platforms, one or more content data networks,data servers, web servers and other content servers, and/or othersources of media.

In various embodiments, the communications network 125 can includewired, optical and/or wireless links and the network elements 150, 152,154, 156, etc. can include service switching points, signal transferpoints, service control points, network gateways, media distributionhubs, servers, firewalls, routers, edge devices, switches and othernetwork nodes for routing and controlling communications traffic overwired, optical and wireless links as part of the Internet and otherpublic networks as well as one or more private networks, for managingsubscriber access, for billing and network management and for supportingother network functions.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment 201 of an application of the communication network of FIG. 1in accordance with various aspects described herein. A viewer 210 viewsa live event (for example, a sports event) shown on a display device219; the display device may be integrated into the viewer's mobilecommunication device 211, or may be a separate device.

In this embodiment, device 211 executes a face/voice capture client forprocessing digital video data 212 and digital audio data 216 obtained bydevice 211. Recognition of a human face results in a set of descriptorsthat occur at a prescribed frame rate (e.g., 30 Hz). The face/voicecapture client uses a standard face model 213 to perform an animationprocedure 214 in which the video of the viewer's face is converted intoan avatar 215. In this embodiment, the face animation is performed usingthe Motion Picture Experts Group MPEG-4 Face and Body Animation (FBA)standard. The avatar is included in a compressed animation stream thatcan be transmitted to a processing system providing the event program.

The audio data 216 representing the viewer's voice can be processed togenerate a compressed audio stream 217. The avatar and audio associatedwith viewer 210 is then used to generate a virtual audience for theevent. In an embodiment, avatars for a large number of viewers (forexample, 10,000) are transmitted to the content processing system andthen aggregated into a virtual audience, which then becomes a backgroundfor the programmed event. In a further embodiment, the virtual audienceis visible to the performer(s) at the live event.

FIG. 2B schematically illustrates a client/server architecture 202 inaccordance with embodiments of the disclosure. A network 220 includes aserver 222 for generating the virtual audience, which includes avatarsfrom human-computer interface (HCI) clients 221 executing on devices ofprogram viewers. Each viewer device includes an animation player client225 and a face/voice capture client 226, which respectively receive andtransmit compressed video and audio streams 228. In this embodiment, avideo representation of each viewer's face is provided by a compressedFBA stream, and the corresponding audio is provided by a compressedaudio stream.

The MPEG-4 Face and Body Animation (FBA) standard provides low bit-ratedelivery of animated avatars that reflect the viewers' emotions. The lowbit-rate of the animation streams enable large numbers of viewers to beplaced virtually in a sports or entertainment venue (e.g. a stadium or atheater). In an embodiment, each viewer 210 consumes about 2kilobits/sec (plus a bitrate required for the compressed audio), whichenables thousands of animation streams to be delivered to the contentprocessing system (e.g., a broadcast studio) during a live program.

FIG. 2C schematically illustrates an audio/video facial capture client203 for generating members of a virtual audience, in accordance withembodiments of the disclosure. In this embodiment, an animated versionof the face of viewer 230 is generated and transmitted to server 222 vianetwork 220.

A camera 231-1 (for example, integrated in a smartphone on which theviewer is watching live-streaming of an event) produces digital videodata 231-2 representing the viewer's face. In an embodiment, the cameraincludes depth sensors to more accurately capture the facial expression.In an additional embodiment, the video data can include eye trackingdata to more accurately capture the expression shown in the viewer'seyes.

The facial capture client performs a procedure 232 in which faceanimation parameters (FAPs) 233 are generated from the video data. Inthis embodiment, FAP values are specified at a frame rate (e.g. 30 Hz)that is predefined by the camera or by a display device. The FAPs arecalculated based on Face Definition Parameters (FDPs) which provide amodel for the face, with feature points representing a neutral positionof the face. In an embodiment, the face model is generated only once,using one or more still views of the head of viewer 230.

The FAPs correspond to displacements of the feature points from theirneutral positions. Based on the FAPs, facial expression, lip motion,gaze direction and head pose can all be included in the face animation.A data stream comprising the animated face is then encoded 234 accordingto the MPEG-4 FBA standard, to produce a compressed MPEG-4 compliantanimation stream 235 that can be transmitted over network 220.

A microphone 236-1 (for example, integrated in a smartphone of theviewer 230) produces digital audio data 236-2, which is encoded 237 toproduce a compressed audio stream. In this embodiment, the audio streamis transmitted over network 220 to a cloud server where it is filteredto remove speech while including laughter, cheering and applause. In anembodiment, the audio stream is filtered (curated) using machinelearning techniques.

It will be appreciated that the transformation of individual audiencemembers into avatars can prevent transmission of inappropriate messageson signs, clothing, etc., while maintaining individuals' privacy.Furthermore, since the bitrate for the animation data is much less thanfor real-time video of the viewer's face, and given that upstreambandwidth is generally much lower than downstream bandwidth, the use ofcompressed animation instead of compressed video enables low-latencycommunication from the audience members for optimal entertainment. Invarious embodiments, the communication from the audience members isperformed using a low-latency communication protocol; for example, UserDatagram Protocol (UDP), Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) protocol, orWeb Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) protocol. The low bitrate of theFBA animation stream can permit thousands of remote audience members toparticipate using avatars, while avoiding video processing bottlenecks.In various embodiments, the compressed animation stream occupies lessthan about 2 kbps of bitrate and can therefore be transmitted over anynetwork that can support coded acoustic speech. Transmission ofcompressed animation in combination with compressed audio in accordancewith the present disclosure requires only about 10 kbps.

FIG. 2D is an illustration 204 of Face Definition Parameter (FDP)feature points of a face model used to generate an animated virtualaudience member, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. In anembodiment, some of the feature points (shown as open circles in FIG.2D) serve to define the shape of the face, while other feature points(shown as solid circles in FIG. 2D) can be displaced by FAPs. Featurepoints are shown for a full face 241, face profile 242, eyes 243-244,teeth 245, nose 246, tongue 247, and mouth 248.

In various embodiments, the face model corresponds to a neutral faceposition (for example, face 241), and FAPs are displacements of thefeature points from the neutral face position. The FAPs are normalizedto be proportional to a particular facial dimension; for example, irisdiameter (distance between upper and lower eyelid), eye separation,eye/nose separation, mouth/nose separation, or mouth width.Normalization of FAPs permits face models to be developed independentlyof FAPs. In particular, an MPEG-4 compliant face model can be embeddedinto a decoder, stored on portable media, downloaded from a website, orintegrated in a web browser. More generally, the normalization of FAPspermits any FBA compliant face model to be animated by any FAP stream.This enables the face model to be chosen by the viewer or systemoperator.

In an embodiment, a default face model is stored at (or otherwiseaccessible to) the face/voice capture client 226, and the viewer 210 canconstruct a new model or search for and select a model using thenetwork. The default model can begin the animation procedure immediatelywhile a new model is transmitted over the network.

FIG. 2E schematically illustrates a procedure 205 in which multipleanimation streams, including avatars of viewers of a program, aretransmitted to a content processing system delivering program content,in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. In the non-limitingembodiment shown in FIG. 2E, three viewers 251-1, 251-2, 251-3 areviewing a program on their respective devices. The devices shown in FIG.2E are handheld mobile devices; it is understood that the disclosure canapply to a very large number of viewers with a variety of devices thatinclude a facial capture client (e.g. AR/VR devices).

Each viewer device performs a facial capture procedure to generate ananimated version of the viewer's face (avatars 253-1, 253-2, 253-3).Each of the avatars is then included in an animation stream (255-1,255-2, 255-3 respectively) which is transmitted at a low bit rate (lessthan about 2 kbps) via communication network 252 to a content processingand delivery system 250. In this embodiment, system 250 receivesaudio/video content of a remote live event 254, either by communicatingwith audio/video equipment at the live event or from an external contentprovider.

System 250 aggregates the multiple animation streams to obtain theavatars. The system then performs a compositing procedure 256 to presentan assembly of avatars; in general, each avatar will be moving (with anew animation presented at a specified frame rate) and producing sounds(transmitted to the system as compressed audio files). In thisembodiment, the assembly of avatars forms a virtual audience for theevent, and the system 250 transmits the virtual audience to theanimation player client 225 of each viewer device. Event viewerstherefore see a synthetic audience and hear laughter, clapping, cheersand boos while inappropriate speech is filtered out from each audiostream in real time. In addition, no inappropriate video content willappear in the audience, since only avatars are shown.

In an additional embodiment, the virtual audience is transmitted to anaudio/video display device 259 that can be viewed by one or moreperformers 257 at the event; this enables the performer to interact withthe remote viewers via their avatars in the virtual audience space. Inthis embodiment, audio that originated from a particular viewer can bespatially mapped so that it appears to come from that viewer's avatar inthe virtual audience. In particular, the system 250 can calculate avirtual distance corresponding to the distance between the performer anda live viewer whose avatar is seated in a given location in the virtualaudience space. The volume of the audio from each virtual audiencemember can then be adjusted according to the virtual distance, to createa more lifelike situation.

In an embodiment, the animation includes the hands and torso of theviewer, in addition to the face. The capture client 226 applies MPEG-4body animation coding to generate Body Animation Parameters (BAPs) thatcan be compressed, similarly to FAPs. Viewer movement (waving hands,etc.) can thus be included in the presentation of the virtual audience.Body animations can be triggered by recognizing vocalization type orfacial expressions in FAPs.

In an embodiment, when a viewer begins to view the content (either atthe beginning of the program or later), a message is first displayed ondisplay 219, asking whether the viewer wants to be included in thevirtual audience (either by opting in or opting out). If the viewer doesnot want to be included, the capture client 226 is disabled while thecontent is displayed.

In an embodiment, the viewer can react to the presentation of the liveevent by triggering an animation in real time via an input to thecapture client 226 executing on his/her personal device (mobilecommunication device or AR\VR device), in order to obtain a moreimmersive user experience. In another embodiment, the system 250 canadjust the animation of one or more virtual audience members, so thatthe avatar(s) move in a manner not actually performed by the physicalviewers. For example, in a large virtual audience at a sports event, thesystem can initiate a “Wave” involving a group of avatars, to providemore engagement for the remote physical audience.

In a further embodiment, the animation player client 225 can present theviewer's avatar at a specific location in the virtual audience. Theviewer may also belong to a group of viewers whose avatars are seatedtogether in the virtual audience, to create a more realistic virtualuser experience by allowing friends to experience the event together asthey would in an in-person setting. The grouping of avatars may bepredefined (for example, according to a viewer's social network) or maybe customized based on real-time communication among the viewers.

In another embodiment, the viewer's device may include a screen capturefeature, so that a viewer may record the appearance of his/her avatar inthe virtual audience for the event; the recording may then be shared onsocial media. In a further embodiment, the viewer can customize theappearance of his/her avatar by selecting clothing, accessories, etc.(for example, from an animation database accessible to the animationplayer client 225) to obtain a more personalized avatar appearance.

The presenter of the content may wish to build a virtual audience havingmore members than the number of current viewers. In an embodiment,system 250 can present one or more additional versions of selectedavatars, at different locations in the virtual audience space. As notedabove, the MPEG-4 Face Animation Parameters (FAPs) are normalized andthus can drive any face model regardless of shape or proportion. FAPsfrom each remote audience member can be applied to a variety of facemodels to increase the perceived number of virtual audience members intotal. In a particular embodiment, the additional avatars are given aslightly different appearance relative to the original; for example, adifferent hair color, facial hair added or removed, etc. In order toavoid the perception of synchronized movement by replicated audiencemembers in the virtual audience space, the FAP and audio streams can bedelayed by small and variable amounts of time.

In order to emulate a live studio audience, the content can be presentedaccompanied by a laugh track. In an embodiment, the timing and characterof the laugh track can be automatically controlled in real time usingdata obtained from the animation streams. For example, if a particularmovement is associated with laughter or identified as a precursor tolaughter, such a movement can serve as a trigger for the laugh track.

In another embodiment, the MPEG-4 FBA streams can be multiplexed intoMPEG-2 transport streams or MP4 files, along with compressed audio andany other MPEG standard data.

In an embodiment, an audience can include both physical and virtualmembers. For example, if a content processor is a broadcast studio, alimited number of persons may be permitted on the studio premises. Themembers of the physical audience can then use augmented/virtual realitydevices (e.g., AR/VR goggles) to place virtual audience members aroundthe physical audience members. In another embodiment, remote viewers ofthe live content can use AR/VR goggles to view the live content and theaudience members present in the studio. Processing and rendering of thevirtual audience presented to the physical audience members can beperformed at a remote computing device and then transmitted to the AR/VRdevices.

FIG. 2F schematically illustrates a system 206 for producing a liveevent that is viewed by a live audience and a remote audience, inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2F,audio and video of the event (including the performance andparticipation by the live audience 261-3) are captured at the eventvenue 261 using cameras/microphones 261-1, and processed using mixersand other devices 261-2 to produce an audio/video MPEG transport stream260. The transport stream is processed and encoded in the cloud 262, andtransmitted via multiple adaptive bit rate (ABR) streams 263 to acontent delivery network (CDN) 265. The CDN includes a server 265-1 thatreceives the ABR streams and edge servers 265-2 that deliver theaudio/video of the live event to user devices 266. In this embodiment,the CDN is managed by a network operating center 268.

FIG. 2G schematically illustrates a system 207 for cloud-basedproduction and presentation of a live event that is viewed by a remoteaudience, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As shownin FIG. 2G, audio and video of the event are captured at the event venue271 and processed in the cloud 272; the cloud includes video and audiomixer applications 272-1, 272-2. In this embodiment, transport streamsrepresenting the live performance are delivered to viewers watchingdisplays in remote galleries 273; audio and video of these viewers,simulating an ambience for the event venue, are also transmitted for thecloud-based production of the event. The transport stream representingthe live performance and remote gallery engagement is processed andencoded in the cloud 274, and transmitted via multiple adaptive bit rate(ABR) streams to a content delivery network (CDN) 275 in communicationwith user devices 276. In this embodiment, the CDN is managed by anetwork operating center 278.

FIG. 2H schematically illustrates a system 208 for cloud-basedproduction and presentation of a live event with a combined remote andvirtual audience, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Asshown in FIG. 2H, audio and video of the event are captured at the eventvenue 281 and processed in the cloud 282; the cloud includes a videomixer application 282-1. In this embodiment, an audio mixer application282-2 includes an audience synthesizer and mixer; the remote liveaudience in galleries 283 listens to the performance (e.g., usingheadphones 283-1), but does not contribute to a simulated ambience ofthe event venue. In this embodiment, the system operator can select abackground crowd audio appropriate to the type of sports/entertainmentbeing shown.

The transport stream representing the video of the live performance andthe synthesized background audio is processed and encoded in the cloud284, and transmitted via multiple adaptive bit rate (ABR) streams to acontent delivery network (CDN) 285 in communication with user devices286. In this embodiment, the CDN is managed by a network operatingcenter 288.

In this embodiment, each user of a device 286 can enable his/her avatarto be presented as a member of a virtual audience, and contribute audio(cheers, applause, etc.) to the synthesized crowd audio. Theavatar/audio 287 from each remote device user is processed in the cloud282. In this embodiment, the user's audio contribution to the audiencesound is processed using a low-latency communication protocol (forexample: UDP, SRT or WebRTC). In additional embodiments, a user canrecord and upload his/her real-time voice to the cloud-based production282, and/or select pre-recorded voice samples to the virtual audio mix.

FIG. 2I is a flowchart depicting an illustrative embodiment of a method209 in accordance with various aspects described herein. In step 2901,multiple viewers attend a live event remotely, using their individualcommunication devices. Each viewer device includes a camera and amicrophone which acquires digital video and audio of the event viewer'sface and voice (step 2902). The video of the viewer's face is processed(step 2904) to generate face animation parameters (FAPs). In thisembodiment, animation is performed using the MPEG-4 FBA standard.

The FAPs are generated using face definition parameters (FDPs) thatdefine a face model for the viewer; the FAPs are normalizeddisplacements of standard face feature points from their neutralposition. The FAP values are generated at a specified display framerate. An avatar for the viewer (a virtual audience member) isconstructed (step 2906) and transmitted in an animation stream over anetwork at a low bit rate (step 2908).

The viewer's voice, acquired by a microphone (e.g. microphone 236-1), isinput to an audio encoder which generates a compressed audio stream(step 2905). In this embodiment, the compressed audio stream istransmitted at a low bit rate (which can be less than 10 kbps) to acloud server for processing (step 2907). The cloud server performs afiltering procedure to remove spoken words from the audio stream.

In step 2910, the compressed animation and audio streams of the viewersare input to a processing system that builds the virtual audience usingthe assembled avatars. The virtual audience, including animated videoand filtered audio components, is then transmitted to the viewers (step2912).

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 2I, itis to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter isnot limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram 300 is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized communication networkin accordance with various aspects described herein. In particular avirtualized communication network is presented that can be used toimplement some or all of the subsystems and functions of system 100, thesubsystems and functions of systems 201-203, and method 209 presented inFIGS. 1, 2A-2C, and 2I. For example, virtualized communication network300 can facilitate in whole or in part transmitting a compressed videodata stream and a compressed audio stream to a remote system providingcontent depicting a live event; the remote system aggregates a pluralityof compressed video data streams and a plurality of compressed audiostreams corresponding to a plurality of remote viewers, to obtain avirtual audience for the event.

In particular, a cloud networking architecture is shown that leveragescloud technologies and supports rapid innovation and scalability via atransport layer 350, a virtualized network function cloud 325 and/or oneor more cloud computing environments 375. In various embodiments, thiscloud networking architecture is an open architecture that leveragesapplication programming interfaces (APIs); reduces complexity fromservices and operations; supports more nimble business models; andrapidly and seamlessly scales to meet evolving customer requirementsincluding traffic growth, diversity of traffic types, and diversity ofperformance and reliability expectations.

In contrast to traditional network elements—which are typicallyintegrated to perform a single function, the virtualized communicationnetwork employs virtual network elements (VNEs) 330, 332, 334, etc. thatperform some or all of the functions of network elements 150, 152, 154,156, etc. For example, the network architecture can provide a substrateof networking capability, often called Network Function VirtualizationInfrastructure (NFVI) or simply infrastructure that is capable of beingdirected with software and Software Defined Networking (SDN) protocolsto perform a broad variety of network functions and services. Thisinfrastructure can include several types of substrates. The most typicaltype of substrate being servers that support Network FunctionVirtualization (NFV), followed by packet forwarding capabilities basedon generic computing resources, with specialized network technologiesbrought to bear when general purpose processors or general purposeintegrated circuit devices offered by merchants (referred to herein asmerchant silicon) are not appropriate. In this case, communicationservices can be implemented as cloud-centric workloads.

As an example, a traditional network element 150 (shown in FIG. 1), suchas an edge router can be implemented via a VNE 330 composed of NFVsoftware modules, merchant silicon, and associated controllers. Thesoftware can be written so that increasing workload consumes incrementalresources from a common resource pool, and moreover so that it'selastic: so the resources are only consumed when needed. In a similarfashion, other network elements such as other routers, switches, edgecaches, and middle-boxes are instantiated from the common resource pool.Such sharing of infrastructure across a broad set of uses makes planningand growing infrastructure easier to manage.

In an embodiment, the transport layer 350 includes fiber, cable, wiredand/or wireless transport elements, network elements and interfaces toprovide broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130,media access 140 and/or access to content sources 175 for distributionof content to any or all of the access technologies. In particular, insome cases a network element needs to be positioned at a specific place,and this allows for less sharing of common infrastructure. Other times,the network elements have specific physical layer adapters that cannotbe abstracted or virtualized, and might require special DSP code andanalog front-ends (AFEs) that do not lend themselves to implementationas VNEs 330, 332 or 334. These network elements can be included intransport layer 350.

The virtualized network function cloud 325 interfaces with the transportlayer 350 to provide the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide specificNFVs. In particular, the virtualized network function cloud 325leverages cloud operations, applications, and architectures to supportnetworking workloads. The virtualized network elements 330, 332 and 334can employ network function software that provides either a one-for-onemapping of traditional network element function or alternately somecombination of network functions designed for cloud computing. Forexample, VNEs 330, 332 and 334 can include route reflectors, domain namesystem (DNS) servers, and dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)servers, system architecture evolution (SAE) and/or mobility managemententity (MME) gateways, broadband network gateways, IP edge routers forIP-VPN, Ethernet and other services, load balancers, distributers andother network elements. Because these elements don't typically need toforward large amounts of traffic, their workload can be distributedacross a number of servers—each of which adds a portion of thecapability, and overall which creates an elastic function with higheravailability than its former monolithic version. These virtual networkelements 330, 332, 334, etc. can be instantiated and managed using anorchestration approach similar to those used in cloud compute services.

The cloud computing environments 375 can interface with the virtualizednetwork function cloud 325 via APIs that expose functional capabilitiesof the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide the flexible and expandedcapabilities to the virtualized network function cloud 325. Inparticular, network workloads may have applications distributed acrossthe virtualized network function cloud 325 and cloud computingenvironment 375 and in the commercial cloud, or might simply orchestrateworkloads supported entirely in NFV infrastructure from these thirdparty locations.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a block diagram of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein. In order to provide additional context for various embodimentsof the embodiments described herein, FIG. 4 and the following discussionare intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitablecomputing environment 400 in which the various embodiments of thesubject disclosure can be implemented. In particular, computingenvironment 400 can be used in the implementation of network elements150, 152, 154, 156, access terminal 112, base station or access point122, switching device 132, media terminal 142, and/or VNEs 330, 332,334, etc. Each of these devices can be implemented viacomputer-executable instructions that can run on one or more computers,and/or in combination with other program modules and/or as a combinationof hardware and software. For example, computing environment 400 canfacilitate in whole or in part transmitting a compressed video datastream and a compressed audio stream to a remote system providingcontent depicting a live event; the remote system aggregates a pluralityof compressed video data streams and a plurality of compressed audiostreams corresponding to a plurality of remote viewers, to obtain avirtual audience for the event.

Generally, program modules comprise routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, comprising single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

As used herein, a processing circuit includes one or more processors aswell as other application specific circuits such as an applicationspecific integrated circuit, digital logic circuit, state machine,programmable gate array or other circuit that processes input signals ordata and that produces output signals or data in response thereto. Itshould be noted that while any functions and features described hereinin association with the operation of a processor could likewise beperformed by a processing circuit.

The illustrated embodiments of the embodiments herein can be alsopracticed in distributed computing environments where certain tasks areperformed by remote processing devices that are linked through acommunications network. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Computing devices typically comprise a variety of media, which cancomprise computer-readable storage media and/or communications media,which two terms are used herein differently from one another as follows.Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and comprises both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implementedin connection with any method or technology for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structured dataor unstructured data.

Computer-readable storage media can comprise, but are not limited to,random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electricallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or othermemory technology, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), digitalversatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devicesor other tangible and/or non-transitory media which can be used to storedesired information. In this regard, the terms “tangible” or“non-transitory” herein as applied to storage, memory orcomputer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude onlypropagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not relinquishrights to all standard storage, memory or computer-readable media thatare not only propagating transitory signals per se.

Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local orremote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries or otherdata retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect tothe information stored by the medium.

Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructureddata in a data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrierwave or other transport mechanism, and comprises any informationdelivery or transport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signalsrefers to a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set orchanged in such a manner as to encode information in one or moresignals. By way of example, and not limitation, communication mediacomprise wired media, such as a wired network or direct-wiredconnection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and otherwireless media.

With reference again to FIG. 4, the example environment can comprise acomputer 402, the computer 402 comprising a processing unit 404, asystem memory 406 and a system bus 408. The system bus 408 couplessystem components including, but not limited to, the system memory 406to the processing unit 404. The processing unit 404 can be any ofvarious commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors andother multiprocessor architectures can also be employed as theprocessing unit 404.

The system bus 408 can be any of several types of bus structure that canfurther interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 406comprises ROM 410 and RAM 412. A basic input/output system (BIOS) can bestored in a non-volatile memory such as ROM, erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM), EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routines thathelp to transfer information between elements within the computer 402,such as during startup. The RAM 412 can also comprise a high-speed RAMsuch as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 402 further comprises an internal hard disk drive (HDD) 414(e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal HDD 414 can also be configured forexternal use in a suitable chassis (not shown), a magnetic floppy diskdrive (FDD) 416, (e.g., to read from or write to a removable diskette418) and an optical disk drive 420, (e.g., reading a CD-ROM disk 422 or,to read from or write to other high capacity optical media such as theDVD). The HDD 414, magnetic FDD 416 and optical disk drive 420 can beconnected to the system bus 408 by a hard disk drive interface 424, amagnetic disk drive interface 426 and an optical drive interface 428,respectively. The hard disk drive interface 424 for external driveimplementations comprises at least one or both of Universal Serial Bus(USB) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394interface technologies. Other external drive connection technologies arewithin contemplation of the embodiments described herein.

The drives and their associated computer-readable storage media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 402, the drives and storagemedia accommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format.Although the description of computer-readable storage media above refersto a hard disk drive (HDD), a removable magnetic diskette, and aremovable optical media such as a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that other types of storage media which arereadable by a computer, such as zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flashmemory cards, cartridges, and the like, can also be used in the exampleoperating environment, and further, that any such storage media cancontain computer-executable instructions for performing the methodsdescribed herein.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 412,comprising an operating system 430, one or more application programs432, other program modules 434 and program data 436. All or portions ofthe operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 412. The systems and methods described herein can beimplemented utilizing various commercially available operating systemsor combinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 402 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 438 and apointing device, such as a mouse 440. Other input devices (not shown)can comprise a microphone, an infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick,a game pad, a stylus pen, touch screen or the like. These and otherinput devices are often connected to the processing unit 404 through aninput device interface 442 that can be coupled to the system bus 408,but can be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, anIEEE 1394 serial port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB) port,an IR interface, etc.

A monitor 444 or other type of display device can be also connected tothe system bus 408 via an interface, such as a video adapter 446. Itwill also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, a monitor 444can also be any display device (e.g., another computer having a display,a smart phone, a tablet computer, etc.) for receiving displayinformation associated with computer 402 via any communication means,including via the Internet and cloud-based networks. In addition to themonitor 444, a computer typically comprises other peripheral outputdevices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 402 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 448. The remotecomputer(s) 448 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentappliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallycomprises many or all of the elements described relative to the computer402, although, for purposes of brevity, only a remote memory/storagedevice 450 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted comprisewired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 452 and/orlarger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 454. Such LAN and WANnetworking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, andfacilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all ofwhich can connect to a global communications network, e.g., theInternet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 402 can beconnected to the LAN 452 through a wired and/or wireless communicationnetwork interface or adapter 456. The adapter 456 can facilitate wiredor wireless communication to the LAN 452, which can also comprise awireless AP disposed thereon for communicating with the adapter 456.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 402 can comprisea modem 458 or can be connected to a communications server on the WAN454 or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN 454,such as by way of the Internet. The modem 458, which can be internal orexternal and a wired or wireless device, can be connected to the systembus 408 via the input device interface 442. In a networked environment,program modules depicted relative to the computer 402 or portionsthereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device 450. It willbe appreciated that the network connections shown are example and othermeans of establishing a communications link between the computers can beused.

The computer 402 can be operable to communicate with any wirelessdevices or entities operatively disposed in wireless communication,e.g., a printer, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portabledata assistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment orlocation associated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk,news stand, restroom), and telephone. This can comprise WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) and BLUETOOTH® wireless technologies. Thus, thecommunication can be a predefined structure as with a conventionalnetwork or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.

Wi-Fi can allow connection to the Internet from a couch at home, a bedin a hotel room or a conference room at work, without wires. Wi-Fi is awireless technology similar to that used in a cell phone that enablessuch devices, e.g., computers, to send and receive data indoors and out;anywhere within the range of a base station. Wi-Fi networks use radiotechnologies called IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g, n, ac, ag, etc.) to providesecure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can beused to connect computers to each other, to the Internet, and to wirednetworks (which can use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Fi networks operatein the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands for example or with productsthat contain both bands (dual band), so the networks can providereal-world performance similar to the basic 10BaseT wired Ethernetnetworks used in many offices.

Turning now to FIG. 5, an embodiment 500 of a mobile network platform510 is shown that is an example of network elements 150, 152, 154, 156,and/or VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. For example, platform 510 can facilitatein whole or in part transmitting a compressed video data stream and acompressed audio stream to a remote system providing content depicting alive event; the remote system aggregates a plurality of compressed videodata streams and a plurality of compressed audio streams correspondingto a plurality of remote viewers, to obtain a virtual audience for theevent.

In one or more embodiments, the mobile network platform 510 can generateand receive signals transmitted and received by base stations or accesspoints such as base station or access point 122. Generally, mobilenetwork platform 510 can comprise components, e.g., nodes, gateways,interfaces, servers, or disparate platforms, that facilitate bothpacket-switched (PS) (e.g., internet protocol (IP), frame relay,asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)) and circuit-switched (CS) traffic(e.g., voice and data), as well as control generation for networkedwireless telecommunication. As a non-limiting example, mobile networkplatform 510 can be included in telecommunications carrier networks, andcan be considered carrier-side components as discussed elsewhere herein.Mobile network platform 510 comprises CS gateway node(s) 512 which caninterface CS traffic received from legacy networks like telephonynetwork(s) 540 (e.g., public switched telephone network (PSTN), orpublic land mobile network (PLMN)) or a signaling system #7 (SS7)network 560. CS gateway node(s) 512 can authorize and authenticatetraffic (e.g., voice) arising from such networks. Additionally, CSgateway node(s) 512 can access mobility, or roaming, data generatedthrough SS7 network 560; for instance, mobility data stored in a visitedlocation register (VLR), which can reside in memory 530. Moreover, CSgateway node(s) 512 interfaces CS-based traffic and signaling and PSgateway node(s) 518. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, CS gatewaynode(s) 512 can be realized at least in part in gateway GPRS supportnode(s) (GGSN). It should be appreciated that functionality and specificoperation of CS gateway node(s) 512, PS gateway node(s) 518, and servingnode(s) 516, is provided and dictated by radio technology(ies) utilizedby mobile network platform 510 for telecommunication over a radio accessnetwork 520 with other devices, such as a radiotelephone 575.

In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic andsignaling, PS gateway node(s) 518 can authorize and authenticatePS-based data sessions with served mobile devices. Data sessions cancomprise traffic, or content(s), exchanged with networks external to themobile network platform 510, like wide area network(s) (WANs) 550,enterprise network(s) 570, and service network(s) 580, which can beembodied in local area network(s) (LANs), can also be interfaced withmobile network platform 510 through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to benoted that WANs 550 and enterprise network(s) 570 can embody, at leastin part, a service network(s) like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). Basedon radio technology layer(s) available in technology resource(s) orradio access network 520, PS gateway node(s) 518 can generate packetdata protocol contexts when a data session is established; other datastructures that facilitate routing of packetized data also can begenerated. To that end, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s) 518 cancomprise a tunnel interface (e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG) in3GPP UMTS network(s) (not shown)) which can facilitate packetizedcommunication with disparate wireless network(s), such as Wi-Finetworks.

In embodiment 500, mobile network platform 510 also comprises servingnode(s) 516 that, based upon available radio technology layer(s) withintechnology resource(s) in the radio access network 520, convey thevarious packetized flows of data streams received through PS gatewaynode(s) 518. It is to be noted that for technology resource(s) that relyprimarily on CS communication, server node(s) can deliver trafficwithout reliance on PS gateway node(s) 518; for example, server node(s)can embody at least in part a mobile switching center. As an example, ina 3GPP UMTS network, serving node(s) 516 can be embodied in serving GPRSsupport node(s) (SGSN).

For radio technologies that exploit packetized communication, server(s)514 in mobile network platform 510 can execute numerous applicationsthat can generate multiple disparate packetized data streams or flows,and manage (e.g., schedule, queue, format . . . ) such flows. Suchapplication(s) can comprise add-on features to standard services (forexample, provisioning, billing, customer support . . . ) provided bymobile network platform 510. Data streams (e.g., content(s) that arepart of a voice call or data session) can be conveyed to PS gatewaynode(s) 518 for authorization/authentication and initiation of a datasession, and to serving node(s) 516 for communication thereafter. Inaddition to application server, server(s) 514 can comprise utilityserver(s), a utility server can comprise a provisioning server, anoperations and maintenance server, a security server that can implementat least in part a certificate authority and firewalls as well as othersecurity mechanisms, and the like. In an aspect, security server(s)secure communication served through mobile network platform 510 toensure network's operation and data integrity in addition toauthorization and authentication procedures that CS gateway node(s) 512and PS gateway node(s) 518 can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s)can provision services from external network(s) like networks operatedby a disparate service provider; for instance, WAN 550 or GlobalPositioning System (GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s)can also provision coverage through networks associated to mobilenetwork platform 510 (e.g., deployed and operated by the same serviceprovider), such as the distributed antennas networks shown in FIG. 1(s)that enhance wireless service coverage by providing more networkcoverage.

It is to be noted that server(s) 514 can comprise one or more processorsconfigured to confer at least in part the functionality of mobilenetwork platform 510. To that end, the one or more processor can executecode instructions stored in memory 530, for example. It is should beappreciated that server(s) 514 can comprise a content manager, whichoperates in substantially the same manner as described hereinbefore.

In example embodiment 500, memory 530 can store information related tooperation of mobile network platform 510. Other operational informationcan comprise provisioning information of mobile devices served throughmobile network platform 510, subscriber databases; applicationintelligence, pricing schemes, e.g., promotional rates, flat-rateprograms, couponing campaigns; technical specification(s) consistentwith telecommunication protocols for operation of disparate radio, orwireless, technology layers; and so forth. Memory 530 can also storeinformation from at least one of telephony network(s) 540, WAN 550, SS7network 560, or enterprise network(s) 570. In an aspect, memory 530 canbe, for example, accessed as part of a data store component or as aremotely connected memory store.

In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosedsubject matter, FIG. 5, and the following discussion, are intended toprovide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in whichthe various aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented.While the subject matter has been described above in the general contextof computer-executable instructions of a computer program that runs on acomputer and/or computers, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe disclosed subject matter also can be implemented in combination withother program modules. Generally, program modules comprise routines,programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform particulartasks and/or implement particular abstract data types.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an illustrative embodiment of a communicationdevice 600 is shown. The communication device 600 can serve as anillustrative embodiment of devices such as data terminals 114, mobiledevices 124, vehicle 126, display devices 144 or other client devicesfor communication via either communications network 125. For example,computing device 600 can facilitate in whole or in part transmitting acompressed video data stream and a compressed audio stream to a remotesystem providing content depicting a live event; the remote systemaggregates a plurality of compressed video data streams and a pluralityof compressed audio streams corresponding to a plurality of remoteviewers, to obtain a virtual audience for the event.

The communication device 600 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 602 (herein transceiver 602), a user interface (UI) 604, apower supply 614, a location receiver 616, a motion sensor 618, anorientation sensor 620, and a controller 606 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 602 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, orcellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth®and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special InterestGroup and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies caninclude, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO,WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 602 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 604 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 608 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device600. The keypad 608 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 600 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. The keypad 608 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTYkeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 604 can further include a display610 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 600. In anembodiment where the display 610 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 608 can be presented by way of the display 610 withnavigation features.

The display 610 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, thecommunication device 600 can be adapted to present a user interfacehaving graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by auser with a touch of a finger. The display 610 can be equipped withcapacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology to detect howmuch surface area of a user's finger has been placed on a portion of thetouch screen display. This sensing information can be used to controlthe manipulation of the GUI elements or other functions of the userinterface. The display 610 can be an integral part of the housingassembly of the communication device 600 or an independent devicecommunicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (suchas a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 604 can also include an audio system 612 that utilizes audiotechnology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard inproximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphonefor hands free operation). The audio system 612 can further include amicrophone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audiosystem 612 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI604 can further include an image sensor 613 such as a charged coupleddevice (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 614 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energyto the components of the communication device 600 to facilitatelong-range or short-range portable communications. Alternatively, or incombination, the charging system can utilize external power sources suchas DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port orother suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 616 can utilize location technology such as aglobal positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS foridentifying a location of the communication device 600 based on signalsgenerated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used forfacilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor 618can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, agyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motionof the communication device 600 in three-dimensional space. Theorientation sensor 620 can utilize orientation sensing technology suchas a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device600 (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations indegrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 600 can use the transceiver 602 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wirelessaccess points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time offlight (TOF) measurements. The controller 606 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits,and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executingcomputer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by theaforementioned components of the communication device 600.

Other components not shown in FIG. 6 can be used in one or moreembodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communicationdevice 600 can include a slot for adding or removing an identity modulesuch as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or Universal IntegratedCircuit Card (UICC). SIM or UICC cards can be used for identifyingsubscriber services, executing programs, storing subscriber data, and soon.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth, as used in theclaims, unless otherwise clear by context, is for clarity only anddoesn't otherwise indicate or imply any order in time. For instance, “afirst determination,” “a second determination,” and “a thirddetermination,” does not indicate or imply that the first determinationis to be made before the second determination, or vice versa, etc.

In the subject specification, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “datastore,” data storage,” “database,” and substantially any otherinformation storage component relevant to operation and functionality ofa component, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a“memory” or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciatedthat the memory components described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory, or can comprise both volatile andnonvolatile memory, by way of illustration, and not limitation, volatilememory, non-volatile memory, disk storage, and memory storage. Further,nonvolatile memory can be included in read only memory (ROM),programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory cancomprise random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cachememory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available inmany forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM),synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhancedSDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methodsherein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising,these and any other suitable types of memory.

Moreover, it will be noted that the disclosed subject matter can bepracticed with other computer system configurations, comprisingsingle-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, mini-computingdevices, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-heldcomputing devices (e.g., PDA, phone, smartphone, watch, tabletcomputers, netbook computers, etc.), microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer or industrial electronics, and the like. Theillustrated aspects can also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network; however, some if not allaspects of the subject disclosure can be practiced on stand-alonecomputers. In a distributed computing environment, program modules canbe located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

In one or more embodiments, information regarding use of services can begenerated including services being accessed, media consumption history,user preferences, and so forth. This information can be obtained byvarious methods including user input, detecting types of communications(e.g., video content vs. audio content), analysis of content streams,sampling, and so forth. The generating, obtaining and/or monitoring ofthis information can be responsive to an authorization provided by theuser. In one or more embodiments, an analysis of data can be subject toauthorization from user(s) associated with the data, such as an opt-in,an opt-out, acknowledgement requirements, notifications, selectiveauthorization based on types of data, and so forth.

Some of the embodiments described herein can also employ artificialintelligence (AI) to facilitate automating one or more featuresdescribed herein. The embodiments (e.g., in connection withautomatically identifying acquired cell sites that provide a maximumvalue/benefit after addition to an existing communication network) canemploy various AI-based schemes for carrying out various embodimentsthereof. Moreover, the classifier can be employed to determine a rankingor priority of each cell site of the acquired network. A classifier is afunction that maps an input attribute vector, x=(x1, x2, x3, x4, . . . ,xn), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, that is,f(x)=confidence (class). Such classification can employ a probabilisticand/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysisutilities and costs) to determine or infer an action that a user desiresto be automatically performed. A support vector machine (SVM) is anexample of a classifier that can be employed. The SVM operates byfinding a hypersurface in the space of possible inputs, which thehypersurface attempts to split the triggering criteria from thenon-triggering events. Intuitively, this makes the classificationcorrect for testing data that is near, but not identical to trainingdata. Other directed and undirected model classification approachescomprise, e.g., naïve Bayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neuralnetworks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilistic classification modelsproviding different patterns of independence can be employed.Classification as used herein also is inclusive of statisticalregression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

As will be readily appreciated, one or more of the embodiments canemploy classifiers that are explicitly trained (e.g., via a generictraining data) as well as implicitly trained (e.g., via observing UEbehavior, operator preferences, historical information, receivingextrinsic information). For example, SVMs can be configured via alearning or training phase within a classifier constructor and featureselection module. Thus, the classifier(s) can be used to automaticallylearn and perform a number of functions, including but not limited todetermining according to predetermined criteria which of the acquiredcell sites will benefit a maximum number of subscribers and/or which ofthe acquired cell sites will add minimum value to the existingcommunication network coverage, etc.

As used in some contexts in this application, in some embodiments, theterms “component,” “system” and the like are intended to refer to, orcomprise, a computer-related entity or an entity related to anoperational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities, whereinthe entity can be either hardware, a combination of hardware andsoftware, software, or software in execution. As an example, a componentmay be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, aprocessor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution,computer-executable instructions, a program, and/or a computer. By wayof illustration and not limitation, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components mayreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component maybe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. In addition, these components can execute from variouscomputer readable media having various data structures stored thereon.The components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such asin accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., datafrom one component interacting with another component in a local system,distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet withother systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be anapparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical partsoperated by electric or electronic circuitry, which is operated by asoftware or firmware application executed by a processor, wherein theprocessor can be internal or external to the apparatus and executes atleast a part of the software or firmware application. As yet anotherexample, a component can be an apparatus that provides specificfunctionality through electronic components without mechanical parts,the electronic components can comprise a processor therein to executesoftware or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality ofthe electronic components. While various components have beenillustrated as separate components, it will be appreciated that multiplecomponents can be implemented as a single component, or a singlecomponent can be implemented as multiple components, without departingfrom example embodiments.

Further, the various embodiments can be implemented as a method,apparatus or article of manufacture using standard programming and/orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware or anycombination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosedsubject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein isintended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device or computer-readable storage/communicationsmedia. For example, computer readable storage media can include, but arenot limited to, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk,magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digitalversatile disk (DVD)), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g.,card, stick, key drive). Of course, those skilled in the art willrecognize many modifications can be made to this configuration withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the various embodiments.

In addition, the words “example” and “exemplary” are used herein to meanserving as an instance or illustration. Any embodiment or designdescribed herein as “example” or “exemplary” is not necessarily to beconstrued as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments ordesigns. Rather, use of the word example or exemplary is intended topresent concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, theterm “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive“or”. That is, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, “Xemploys A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusivepermutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both Aand B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoinginstances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in thisapplication and the appended claims should generally be construed tomean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context tobe directed to a singular form.

Moreover, terms such as “user equipment,” “mobile station,” “mobile,”subscriber station,” “access terminal,” “terminal,” “handset,” “mobiledevice” (and/or terms representing similar terminology) can refer to awireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a wirelesscommunication service to receive or convey data, control, voice, video,sound, gaming or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. Theforegoing terms are utilized interchangeably herein and with referenceto the related drawings.

Furthermore, the terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” “consumer” andthe like are employed interchangeably throughout, unless contextwarrants particular distinctions among the terms. It should beappreciated that such terms can refer to human entities or automatedcomponents supported through artificial intelligence (e.g., a capacityto make inference based, at least, on complex mathematical formalisms),which can provide simulated vision, sound recognition and so forth.

As employed herein, the term “processor” can refer to substantially anycomputing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited tocomprising, single-core processors; single-processors with softwaremultithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-coreprocessors with software multithread execution capability; multi-coreprocessors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; andparallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, aprocessor can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), acomplex programmable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistorlogic, discrete hardware components or any combination thereof designedto perform the functions described herein. Processors can exploitnano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular andquantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimizespace usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A processor canalso be implemented as a combination of computing processing units.

As used herein, terms such as “data storage,” data storage,” “database,”and substantially any other information storage component relevant tooperation and functionality of a component, refer to “memorycomponents,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or components comprisingthe memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components orcomputer-readable storage media, described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory or can include both volatile andnonvolatile memory.

What has been described above includes mere examples of variousembodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes ofdescribing these examples, but one of ordinary skill in the art canrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the presentembodiments are possible. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed and/orclaimed herein are intended to embrace all such alterations,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes”is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term isintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue”indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that thesteps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used inconjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates thebeginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by otheractivities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indicationreflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/ormay be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further,while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, otherorderings are likewise possible provided that the principles ofcausality are maintained.

As may also be used herein, the term(s) “operably coupled to”, “coupledto”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/orindirect coupling between items via one or more intervening items. Suchitems and intervening items include, but are not limited to, junctions,communication paths, components, circuit elements, circuits, functionalblocks, and/or devices. As an example of indirect coupling, a signalconveyed from a first item to a second item may be modified by one ormore intervening items by modifying the form, nature or format ofinformation in a signal, while one or more elements of the informationin the signal are nevertheless conveyed in a manner than can berecognized by the second item. In a further example of indirectcoupling, an action in a first item can cause a reaction on the seconditem, as a result of actions and/or reactions in one or more interveningitems.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves thesame or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments describedor shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intendedto cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure.For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can becombined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. Inone or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can alsobe negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or withoutreplacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The stepsor functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subjectdisclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functionsdescribed with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure canbe performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions ofthe subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from othersteps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further,more than or less than all of the features described with respect to anembodiment can also be utilized.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: acquiring, by a processingsystem including a processor, a video image of a remote viewer of aplurality of remote viewers of content depicting an event; acquiring, bythe processing system, voice data of the remote viewer; generating, bythe processing system, animation parameters relating to the video image,the animation parameters based on an animation model, the animationparameters corresponding to spatial deviations of portions of the videoimage from feature points of the animation model; constructing, by theprocessing system based on the animation parameters, an avatar of theremote viewer comprising an animated version of the video image;encoding, by the processing system, the animated version to obtain acompressed video data stream; encoding, by the processing system, thevoice data to obtain a compressed audio stream; and transmitting, by theprocessing system, the compressed video data stream and the compressedaudio stream to a remote system providing the content, wherein thecompressed video data stream is transmitted at a bit rate of less thanabout 2 kbps, wherein the remote system aggregates a plurality ofcompressed video data streams and a plurality of compressed audiostreams corresponding to the plurality of remote viewers, to obtain avirtual audience for the event, wherein the virtual audience comprisesavatars of the plurality of remote viewers and sound produced by theplurality of remote viewers, the sound being filtered to remove spokenwords of the plurality of remote viewers, and wherein the remote systemintegrates the virtual audience into the content as a background for theevent.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the animation parameters aregenerated in accordance with an MPEG-4 Face and Body Animation (FBA)standard.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the video image comprises aface of the remote viewer, and wherein the animation model comprisesface definition parameters, the feature points being determined inaccordance with the face definition parameters.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the animation model is independent of the animationparameters, and wherein the animation model is stored in a locationaccessible to the processing system.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe remote viewer selects the animation model.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein a cloud server filters the sound in a real-time filteringprocedure.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressed audio streamis transmitted at a bit rate less than about 10 kbps.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the event is a live sports or entertainment event. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein the animation parameters are generated ata specified frame rate based on a presentation of the event.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the virtual audience is visible to performersat the event.
 11. A device, comprising: a processing system including aprocessor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, whenexecuted by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations,the operations comprising: downloading content depicting an event from aremote system; acquiring a video image of a face of a remote viewer of aplurality of remote viewers of the content; acquiring voice data of theremote viewer; generating face animation parameters relating to thevideo image, the face animation parameters based on a face animationmodel, the face animation parameters corresponding to spatial deviationsof portions of the video image from feature points of the face animationmodel; constructing, by the processing system based on the faceanimation parameters, an avatar of the remote viewer comprising ananimated version of the video image; encoding, by the processing system,the animated version to obtain a compressed animation data stream;encoding, by the processing system, the voice data to obtain acompressed audio stream; and transmitting, by the processing system, thecompressed animation data stream and the compressed audio stream to theremote system, wherein the compressed animation data stream istransmitted at a bit rate of less than about 2 kbps, wherein the remotesystem aggregates a plurality of compressed animation data streams and aplurality of compressed audio streams corresponding to the plurality ofremote viewers, to obtain a virtual audience for the event, wherein thevirtual audience comprises avatars of the plurality of remote viewersand sound produced by the plurality of remote viewers, the sound beingfiltered to remove spoken words of the plurality of remote viewers. 12.The device of claim 11, wherein the face animation parameters aregenerated in accordance with an MPEG-4 Face and Body Animation (FBA)standard.
 13. The device of claim 11, wherein the compressed audiostream is transmitted at a bit rate less than about 10 kbps.
 14. Thedevice of claim 11, wherein the face animation parameters are generatedat a specified frame rate based on a presentation of the event.
 15. Thedevice of claim 11, wherein the virtual audience is visible toperformers at the event.
 16. A machine-readable medium, comprisingexecutable instructions that, when executed by a processing systemincluding a processor, facilitate performance of operations, theoperations comprising: downloading content depicting an event from aremote system; acquiring a video image of a face of a remote viewer of aplurality of remote viewers of the content; acquiring voice data of theremote viewer; generating face animation parameters relating to thevideo image, the face animation parameters based on a face animationmodel, the face animation parameters corresponding to spatial deviationsof portions of the video image from feature points of the face animationmodel; constructing, by the processing system based on the faceanimation parameters, an avatar of the remote viewer comprising ananimated version of the video image; encoding, by the processing system,the animated version to obtain a compressed animation data stream;encoding, by the processing system, the voice data to obtain acompressed audio stream; and transmitting, by the processing system, thecompressed animation data stream and the compressed audio stream to theremote system, wherein the compressed animation data stream istransmitted at a bit rate of less than about 2 kbps, wherein the remotesystem aggregates a plurality of compressed animation data streams and aplurality of compressed audio streams corresponding to the plurality ofremote viewers, to obtain a virtual audience for the event, wherein thevirtual audience comprises avatars of the plurality of remote viewersand sound produced by the plurality of remote viewers, the sound beingfiltered in a filtering procedure performed at a cloud server to removespoken words of the plurality of remote viewers.
 17. Themachine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the face animationparameters are generated in accordance with an MPEG-4 Face and BodyAnimation (FBA) standard.
 18. The machine-readable medium of claim 16,wherein the compressed audio stream is transmitted at a bit rate lessthan about 10 kbps.
 19. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, whereinthe face animation parameters are generated at a specified frame ratebased on a presentation of the event.
 20. The machine-readable medium ofclaim 16, wherein the virtual audience is visible to performers at theevent.